PASIG policemen on Friday rounded up five young girls who were said to be offering sex in exchange for prepaid cards for cellular phones. The police acted on a tip that young girls were soliciting sex in exchange for 300-peso and 500-peso cell phone ...

Dateline:April 20, 2002

Source:Inquirer News Service

ID:OIP-12

PASIG policemen on Friday rounded up five young girls who were said to be offering sex in exchange for prepaid cards for cellular phones. The police acted on a tip that young girls were soliciting sex in exchange for 300-peso and 500-peso cell phone cards in front of the Immaculate Conception Church in the city.

The girls, aged 16 and 17, were arrested around 2 a.m. They admitted to police they exchanged sexual favors for prepaid cards and that a still unidentified cigarette vendor acted as their pimp. Police seized from the girls packets of condom, lubricants, cell phones and cell cards.

They told police that they entered the sex business to fund their "texting" habits -- a reference to the short message system, a feature in cellular phone units where users can send "text messages" to friends and acquaintances.

Intelligence Blunders

A deadly explosion in the Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation was initially considered to be a terrorist act. But the ensuing investigation linked the event not to criminals, but to careless NBI agents smoking near a bucketful of TNT. The ...

Dateline:August 13, 1999

Source:Associated Press Wire

ID:OIP-24

A deadly explosion in the Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation was initially considered to be a terrorist act. But the ensuing investigation linked the event not to criminals, but to careless NBI agents smoking near a bucketful of TNT. The blast killed seven people, including the perpetrator, and demolished the NBI Special Investigation Division. Grenades and other explosives also detonated in the fire. Officials are considering charging the Division Chief with criminal negligence for failing to safeguard seized explosives.

Starlet Offers Week Of Pleasure

A movie starlet yesterday offered a "week of pleasure" to the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in exchange for the release of some of the 29 foreign and local captives they are holding in Jolo. "I want to help bring peace to our country so I am ...

Dateline:August 27, 2000

Source:

ID:OIP-21

A movie starlet yesterday offered a "week of pleasure" to the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in exchange for the release of some of the 29 foreign and local captives they are holding in Jolo. "I want to help bring peace to our country so I am willing to give them a week of pleasure for whatever (they want) as long as they free all of our countrymen they are holding," starlet Marinella Moran said in an interview over local radio station DZBB.

Asked if she would not seek freedom for the 12 foreigners being held by the Abu Sayyaf as well, the young actress replied, "we can include them as long as there will be peace for good." "I am willing to give myself to Commander Robot so there will finally be peace," she said, adding that she was even willing to marry the Abu Sayyaf leader, whose real name is Ghalib Andang.

Asked to react to this offer, chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado said he could not "in good conscience," accept the offer because, "in the eyes of God, in the eyes of other countries and our countrymen, we will look like such a hopeless case" if they have to resort to such measures. "No self-respecting government would allow this," Aventajado said, although he remarked, "I appreciate the offer." The four-month long hostage crisis broke out on April 23 when the Abu Sayyaf seized 21 foreign and local hostages from a Malaysian resort and took them across the sea border to the southern Philippine island of Jolo. Andang and other Abu Sayyaf members have also kidnapped local women and forced them to marry them.

Peace Corps Volunteers Nabbed For 'Live Show'

Two alleged members of the United States Peace Corps. were arrested by members of the Western Police District Mobile Patrol Unit for allegedly engaging in torrid necking before a crowd in Ermita, Manila early yesterday morning.

Police said ...

Dateline:Dezember 09, 2001

Source:Philippine Star

ID:OIP-15

Two alleged members of the United States Peace Corps. were arrested by members of the Western Police District Mobile Patrol Unit for allegedly engaging in torrid necking before a crowd in Ermita, Manila early yesterday morning.

Police said American Elizabeth Rosh, 25; and Eugene Quezada,26; were arrested by policemen during a routine patrol along Mabini street about 1 A.M. According to police inspector Richard Gando and senior police officer 1 Johnny Casper they were aboard their prowl car and were cruising along Mabini street when they chanced upon a small crowd gathering at Sinagoga street.

Police said the two officers checked out what was happening and saw the couple standing half-naked and necking in the dimly lit sidestreet before spectators. The policemen broke up the crowd and escorted the couple to a prowl car. According to the WPD Mobile Patrol Unit, the two were later turned over to the custody of the United States Embassy.

U.S. Couple In Sidewalk Sex Bout

Failing to control their passion reportedly after taking drugs two American lovers engaged in torrid sex on a sidewalk in Ermita, Manila yesterday, but found themselves in jail, not in heaven, when they regained their senses. The two, Eugene Quezada, 26 ...

Dateline:Dezember 09, 2001

Source:Bandera News

ID:OIP-16

Failing to control their passion reportedly after taking drugs two American lovers engaged in torrid sex on a sidewalk in Ermita, Manila yesterday, but found themselves in jail, not in heaven, when they regained their senses. The two, Eugene Quezada, 26 and Elizabeth Rosh, 25, both natives of Alaska, USA and alleged members of the United States Peace Corps, were still doing it when collared by responding policemen.

Insp. Richard Gando said he and his two men were patrolling in Ermita, Manila around 1 A.M. yesterday when they noticed a commotion at the corner of Sinagoga and Mabini streets. Gando said some bystanders, mostly men, were even shouting while apparently watching a show. Curious, the lawmen approached the crowd to know what was going on. The cops were shocked upon seeing what the crowd was cheering on: Quezada and Rosh having sex on the sidewalk, unmindful of the presence of the people.

When the lawmen tried to stop the lovers from continuing the show, Rosh got irked and tried to attack them. "Tila nabitin pa iyong babae kaya pinagkakalmot nito ang mga pulis na umistorbo sa kanila," a bystander said. The two were subsequently brought to the police headquarters. Police said the two were apparently high on drugs, the reason why they did not mind having sex in public. But instead of filing criminal charges against the lovers, police said they may turn them over to the United States Embassy for proper disposition.

Menage-A-Trois Too Expensive For Tourist

A 45-YEAR-OLD American tourist lost more than 2,000 dollars after an alleged gay and a woman offered him "threesome sex" in Ermita, Manila on Monday night. The victim nabbed the suspects when he saw them again Tuesday morning. It was too late. The money ...

Dateline:Dezember 11, 2001

Source:Inquirer News Service

ID:OIP-14

A 45-YEAR-OLD American tourist lost more than 2,000 dollars after an alleged gay and a woman offered him "threesome sex" in Ermita, Manila on Monday night. The victim nabbed the suspects when he saw them again Tuesday morning. It was too late. The money was already gone.

The suspects denied they were the ones who duped the American. Pennel said he was walking along the corner of M.H. Del Pilar and Soldado streets in Manila around 10 p.m. Monday when he encountered the suspects.

Bautista allegedly approached him and, for 2,000 dollars, offered to have "threesome sex" with Pennel. The suspect allegedly made the offer while pointing to Gonzaga, who was standing nearby. But the American tourist claimed he refused since his girlfriend was sleeping in his hotel room.

Gonzaga then approached Pennel and tried to seduce him. Pennel claimed she began fondling his chest. But while trying to seduce the victim, Gonzaga suddenly snatched Pennel's money, which was kept inside a pouch.

The two suspects then quickly escaped toward an unknown direction, leaving behind the bewildered victim. Pennel decided to go back to the crime scene around 6 a.m. Tuesday to see if he could find the culprits. To his surprise, both Gonzaga and Bautista were there. Pennel wasted no time. He arrested the two persons, who did not resist. Pennel later asked for assistance at a nearby police outpost and brought the suspects to the Ermita police station.

But after conducting a body search on the two suspects, police did not find a trace of Pennel's money.

Suspicious Wife Cuts It Off

Suspicions of unfaithfulness drove a housewife to cut off the penis of her husband yesterday inside their house in Taguig. Police said Marilou Llanerezah used a kitchen knife to cut off the sex organ of her husband, Antonio, 30, while he was asleep in ...

Dateline:Dezember 12, 2003

Source:

ID:OIP-6

Suspicions of unfaithfulness drove a housewife to cut off the penis of her husband yesterday inside their house in Taguig. Police said Marilou Llanerezah used a kitchen knife to cut off the sex organ of her husband, Antonio, 30, while he was asleep in their room at the TUP compound in Western Bicutan at around 9:30 a.m.

Llanerezah said she did it because she could no longer take the unfaithfulness of her husband, who works as a night-shift plumber. She said she has evidence to prove her suspicions, referring to the text messages on her husband's cell phone. However, the wife still rushed her husband to the Pasay City General Hospital.

According to attending surgeon Dr. Leonarda Cacawa, a large part of the penis was already detached when the victim arrived at the hospital. "We could not attach the cut portion of the penis back. All we could do was to treat the wound," he said. Probers said filing of charges against Llanerezah would depend on her husband.

Goons Prey On Swede In The Heart Of Manila

While Abu Sayyaf terrorists continue kidnapping foreign missionaries in the south, petty criminals are preying on foreign tourists right in the heart of Manila. Local tourism took another beating after Swedish tourist Robert Erik Eriksson, 43, lost more ...

Dateline:Dezember 13, 2001

Source:

ID:OIP-13

While Abu Sayyaf terrorists continue kidnapping foreign missionaries in the south, petty criminals are preying on foreign tourists right in the heart of Manila. Local tourism took another beating after Swedish tourist Robert Erik Eriksson, 43, lost more than 4,000 dollars to members of the notorious Ativan gang after playing golf in Intramuros.

He became the third tourist to fall victim to criminals in Manila in four days. And the suspects even beat up Eriksson when he prematurely woke up after the culprits had drugged him to sleep. Eriksson, billeted at the City State Tower Hotel in Ermita, told the Western Police District (WPD) General Assignments Section (GAS) that he lost $4,400 dollars to two unidentified Ativan gang members.

The victim described the first suspect as "decent-looking," around 60-years-old, medium built, fluent in English, and 5'9" in height. The second suspect was twenty-ish, slim, fair-complexioned, sporting short hair, and was driving a white Toyota car. Eriksson added that he lost a wristwatch worth 4,000 dollars, a gold necklace worth 400 dollars, 2,500 pesos in cash, a T-shirt worth 40 dollars, and a pair of pants worth 25 dollars.

He said the incident happened around 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 near the Intramuros Golf Course. He said he had just finished playing golf and was waiting for a taxi when one of the two suspects approached and befriended him. The culprit, "who was glib," then offered Eriksson a ride back to his hotel. While they were on their way to City State Tower, the suspects offered him some juice drink.

After taking a sip, Eriksson said he felt dizzy and passed out. When he woke up, he was surprised to see that he was already near a police station in Carmona, Cavite. The victim, who had bruises in his body, later told policemen that he woke up while he was still inside the suspects' car. He said that he sensed that something was wrong and tried to fight off the two suspects. But the culprits ganged up on him and beat him up until he again passed out.

On Saturday, Indian tourist and businessman Yogesh Marhawa, 36, lost nearly 200,000 pesos to the Ativan gang. One of the suspects befriended Marhawa, pretending to be a CitiBank vice president, while he was walking also in Intramuros.

On Monday night, American tourist John Walter Pennel II, lost more than 2,000 dollars to two snatchers, who at first offered him to have "threesome sex" with them.

Man Mauled By Mistress And Her Lesbian Lover

PASAY City building inspector Engineer Rodolfo Medroso, 58, decided to play with fire and took up a mistress. He got burned and badly bruised. Medroso, of Tramo Road, Pasay City, filed a complaint against his mistress and her lesbian lover after they ...

Dateline:Februar 23, 2003

Source:

ID:OIP-9

PASAY City building inspector Engineer Rodolfo Medroso, 58, decided to play with fire and took up a mistress. He got burned and badly bruised. Medroso, of Tramo Road, Pasay City, filed a complaint against his mistress and her lesbian lover after they beat him black and blue when he caught them having sex, said senior police officer 2 Mario Salonga of the Western Police District.

Medroso said his mistress, Laarni Calayacan, 33, of Sampaloc, Manila, and her lover Belen Ocampo, 29, took turns in hitting him, Salonga said. "He could not open his eyes when he came here," Salonga said. "I also told him that he might get into trouble by admitting that he had a mistress, but he said he was afraid that the two might turn the tables on him." Having a mistress is immoral under the Civil Service Code.

Salonga said the beating happened at around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 11 at the house Medroso allegedly provided for his mistress. "He had become suspicious that his mistress was also having an affair, and so he went there in the middle of the night," Salonga said.

But what shocked him was not the confirmation of his fears but the sight of his mistress carousing with another woman. "He caught them in a very compromising situation," Salonga said. In a fit of rage, the engineer threw his cellular phone at the couple. But the two women got up and attacked him.

The engineer had to be taken to the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center after the beating. The victim went to the WPD headquarters to file physical injuries charges against the two women.

To Prove Fidelity To Wife, Man Chops Off His Penis

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — Wanting to prove his fidelity to his estranged wife, he sacrificed his manhood — he cut off his penis, wrapped it in newspaper and gave it to her. The severed three-inch penis is now in the custody of this town’s police after ...

Dateline:Februar 26, 2003

Source:

ID:OIP-8

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — Wanting to prove his fidelity to his estranged wife, he sacrificed his manhood — he cut off his penis, wrapped it in newspaper and gave it to her. The severed three-inch penis is now in the custody of this town’s police after Evelyn Palaganas Mamaril, 35, "surrendered" it to them last Saturday night. The police sought the help of an embalmer to preserve it in a bottle.

Evelyn was in her parents’ house here when something wrapped in newspaper was thrown through the window. She was shocked to find the severed male organ. Outside the house, her estranged husband George shouted, "Piano ag ka la manududa ya onkakaraw ak (So you will not suspect I am courting another girl)."

Her neighbors saw George walking away, grimacing in pain while covering his bloodied crotch. The couple have been estranged for three years now after Evelyn’s parents prodded her to live with them because George was jobless and thus, incapable of supporting her and their two children.

In Batangas, Dog Meat Trade Is A Door-To-Door Business

Padre Garcia, Batangas-- Despite being illegal, the trade in dog meat is growing so fast that dog traders are now going door-to-door looking for canines to buy. Dog meat traders now hire tricycle drivers to go house to house shouting, "Aso! Asokayo ...

Dateline:Januar 05, 2004

Source:Sun Star

ID:OIP-5

Padre Garcia, Batangas-- Despite being illegal, the trade in dog meat is growing so fast that dog traders are now going door-to-door looking for canines to buy. Dog meat traders now hire tricycle drivers to go house to house shouting, "Aso! Asokayo diyan, may ibebenta kayong aso d'yan (Dogs! Have you got dogs to sell?)

One dog trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity said they transport 800 to 1,000 dogs a month to Baguio City and Tarlac,Pangasinan and the Cordilleras to supply about 100 eateries and restaurants that openly serve dog meat. Because of the tremendous demand for dog meat, dog traders have resorted to hiring tricycle drivers as their "agents" and procure dogs for slaughter by going house to house throughout Batangas province. Sometimes they go as far as the neighboring provinces of Laguna and Quezon.

"When we were just starting this business, we only had two tricycles to go around town to buy dogs," the trader said. "Now we use at least 10 tricycles a day to cover almost all towns. Each tricycle driver is given P1000 as capital with which to buy dogs. The going rate is P50 to P175 depending on the size of the dogs. At the end of the day they turn the dogs and the remaining capital in to their financiers, after taking their commissions of P40 to P50 per dog. Once bought, the dogs are classified into two groups: the dogs to be slaughtered for local consumption and the "viaje (journey)" dogs that will be transported to Baguio and the northern provinces. The "locals" will be delivered to eateries and restaurants in Batangas particularly in the towns of Ibaan, Rosario, Padre Garcia and San Juan.

Bus Passengers Lose P1M

Some P1 million worth of cash and jewelry were carted away by three armed robbers from bus passengers in Pampanga. Police Regional Office 3 director Chief Supt. Roberto Calinisan said the suspects hauled away P908,000 worth of cash, cellular phones, and ...

Dateline:Januar 12, 2001

Source:

ID:OIP-19

Some P1 million worth of cash and jewelry were carted away by three armed robbers from bus passengers in Pampanga. Police Regional Office 3 director Chief Supt. Roberto Calinisan said the suspects hauled away P908,000 worth of cash, cellular phones, and jewelry from the Manila-bound passengers of the Victory Liner bus (CWP-245) in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The robbery happened at around 6 p.m., Friday, after the bus, driven by Cesar Sison, reached the North Luzon Expressway. The suspects, all armed with handguns, announced the hold-up and demanded for the victims valuables. The robbers alighted in Barangay Lawa, Meycauayan, Bulacan. Operatives of the Meycauayan PNP have launched pursuit operations against the suspects, who are allegedly members of a big-time robbery syndicate operating in the North Expressway area.

Police Arrest 40 Year-Old Man For Having Sexual Intercourse With A Dog

Police in Toledo City, Philippines arrested a 40 year-old man yesterday for having sexual intercourse with a dog in the comfort room of the downtown transit station. Facing 20 years in jail for violating the Philippine Bestiality Statutes, Section ...

Dateline:Juni 11, 2002

Source:

ID:OIP-10

Police in Toledo City, Philippines arrested a 40 year-old man yesterday for having sexual intercourse with a dog in the comfort room of the downtown transit station. Facing 20 years in jail for violating the Philippine Bestiality Statutes, Section 103.22, the man, reported to be from Manila, said he was drunk and looking to urinate in the comfort room when a large dog walked in and got him aroused. The dog was destroyed humanely by being put to sleep by a local veterinarian at the Toledo City Police Station.

22-Yr-Old Man Drinks, Brags, Dies

A 22-year-old man, who had one drink too many and boasted to friends he could make electricity run through his body without any ill-effects, paid dearly with his life last Tuesday night in Caloocan City.

Witnesses told probers that Roderick de ...

Dateline:Mai 02, 2002

Source:

ID:OIP-11

A 22-year-old man, who had one drink too many and boasted to friends he could make electricity run through his body without any ill-effects, paid dearly with his life last Tuesday night in Caloocan City.

Witnesses told probers that Roderick de la Cruz, single, of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, shook uncontrollably in agony as electric current ripped through his body after he touched an exposed livewire in the house of his elder brother Rogelio, where the drinking session took place. De la Cruz, who sustained third degree burns in most parts of his body, was rushed to the hospital but expired before reaching the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

Investigation conducted by PO1 Reynaldo Placido of the Station investigation Bureau (SIB) said the incident occurred at around 7 p.m. in his brother's house not far from Roderick's own in the same neighborhood. It was gathered that the victim went to his brother's house for a few drinks but when the alcohol began to take effect on him, he bragged to his friends that he had a way with electricity like no other. To prove to his unbelieving audience that he was not bluffing, he allegedly pulled a wire from the ceiling and twirled its exposed end with his bare thumb and index finger.

Rogelio allegedly warned his sibling about doing anything stupid but the admonition went unheeded and apparently even fueled his desire to be proven right about his claims before his doubting audience, probers said. In a split second, the startled victim cried out in agony as the current took its toll on his intoxicated body.

Candidate Tries To Bomb Own Rally For Sympathy Vote

MANILA -- Police said Friday they foiled a plot by a member of parliament to bomb his own election rally in an attempt to win sympathy votes. The brother of Cong. Edgar Erice was arrested while driving a van carrying a home-made bomb to a campaign rally ...

Dateline:Mai 07, 2004

Source:Associated Philippines Press

ID:OIP-4

MANILA -- Police said Friday they foiled a plot by a member of parliament to bomb his own election rally in an attempt to win sympathy votes. The brother of Cong. Edgar Erice was arrested while driving a van carrying a home-made bomb to a campaign rally in Manila, police superintendent Marcelino Franco said.

He said police believe Erice's supporters planned to stage a bomb attack to attract a sympathy vote for the congressman, who is standing for mayor in Caloocan City north of the capital. Police said a man caught planting the bomb confessed that he was ordered to do so by the congressman's head of security.

At least 86 people have been killed in election-related violence in the lead-up to Monday's presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Most of the violence has been blamed on personal political squabbles. AFP

'Ready To Vote, Sir? Head To The Urinal'

Manila - For the first time in Philippines election history, toilets were used as polling centers in one of the slum districts of the capital. Election officials resorted to the arrangement - after a cleaning - because of a shortage of rooms in a school ...

Dateline:Mai 10, 2004

Source:

ID:OIP-3

Manila - For the first time in Philippines election history, toilets were used as polling centers in one of the slum districts of the capital. Election officials resorted to the arrangement - after a cleaning - because of a shortage of rooms in a school in the district of Payatas in the Manila suburb of Quezon.

Efrenita Miranda, a teacher in the Payatas Elementary School (PES), said the shortage occurred because one of the buildings in the compound was under construction. "We have no other option but to use our two comfort rooms to accommodate all the registered voters," she said.

Miranda said 20 605 registered voters have been assigned to 103 precincts at PES, which only had 21 classrooms that were available for use. The school's library, lobby and clinic were also put to use, aside from the toilets, she added.

Miranda, who was assigned to prepare the toilets for the voting, said that at any given time, eight to 10 voters can fit into one comfort room. "We have made it more comfortable for our voters by putting temporary covers in the cubicles," she said. "And they don't have to worry because we made sure that the comfort rooms are clean."

More than 43,5 million Filipinos are eligible to vote for the country's next president, vice president, 12 senators, more than 200 congressmen and about 17 000 local officials. - Sapa-dpa

Home Grown Parachute

Augusto was a man with a mission. He boarded a Philippine Air flight to Manila, and donned a ski mask and swim goggles. Then he pulled out a gun and a grenade and announced that he was hijacking the plane. Apparently, security is a bit lax at the Davao ...

Dateline:Mai 25, 2000

Source:Associated Press Wire

ID:OIP-23

Augusto was a man with a mission. He boarded a Philippine Air flight to Manila, and donned a ski mask and swim goggles. Then he pulled out a gun and a grenade and announced that he was hijacking the plane. Apparently, security is a bit lax at the Davao City airport.

He demanded that the plane return to Davao City, but the pilots convinced him that the aircraft was low on fuel, and they continued on toward Manila. Augusto, undaunted, robbed the passengers of about $25,000 and ordered the pilots to lower the plane to 6,500 feet.

When a lunatic with a gun orders you to descend, you descend. Meanwhile, Augusto strapped a homemade parachute onto his back, and forced the flight attendants to open the door and depressurise the plane.

He probably intended to jump, but the wind was so strong that he had trouble getting out of the plane. Finally, one of the flight attendants helpfully pushed him out the door, just as he pulled the pin from the grenade. He threw the pin into the cabin, and fell toward the earth carrying the business end of the grenade in his hand.

Men Selling Brains, Skeletons Arrested

For allegedly illegally selling human skeletons and brains to medical students, a private grave caretaker and an employee of a state university were separately arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Arrested by agents of the ...

Dateline:November 01, 2000

Source:Philippine Star

ID:OIP-20

For allegedly illegally selling human skeletons and brains to medical students, a private grave caretaker and an employee of a state university were separately arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Arrested by agents of the NBI's Special Action Unit were Rodolfo Castro, 43, of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, and a long-time grave caretaker at the Manila North Cemetery and June Chua, 36, an employee of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).

NBI-SAU chief Edmund Arugay said they have received information on the rampant sale of human skeletons by some corrupt grave caretakers to medical students at the PLM. Acting on the information, SAU agents conducted a two-week surveillance that led them to Castro. Castro was arrested at about 6 p.m. last Monday inside the Manila North Cemetery after he handed a complete adult female skeleton to an NBI agent who posed as a medicine student in exchange for P1,500 in marked cash.

According to NBI agents, Castro, a private grave caretaker, has long been in the business of illegally digging-up skeletons from the graves he looks after and then sell them to students looking for cheap specimens. "These graves usually have five-year contracts with the cemetery. Once the contract expires, the skeletal remains should be removed from the grave plot and transferred to a common grave. However, the suspect, without proper authorization, sells the skeletons instead of transferring these to the common grave," said one NBI agent. Meanwhile, Chua, who is detailed with the PLM's Anatomy Department, was arrested by NBI-SAU agents inside the school at about 11 a.m. yesterday shortly after handing over to an undercover agent a human brain in exchange for P700.

According to the NBI, Chua was arrested after staffers from the Imbestigador television show of GMA-7 sought their assistance. The PLM has officially denied involvement in Chua's activities, the NBI said. "We told him (Chua) that we needed seven brains but he only managed to deliver one," said an NBI agent. Castro, who was charged by the NBI with desecration of grave was released from custody pending further investigation. Chua was also released from custody as the NBI has yet to determine what charges should be filed against him.

According to an NBI prober, Chua was not inquested and was made only to execute an affidavit as the buy-bust was handled by the Imbestigador staffers. In his affidavit, Chua said the brain he sold was owned by PLM physical therapy students who left it in his custody.

By The Way

The idea being floated in Malacañang about the President declaring a one-week holiday this Christmas is insane. This absurd scheme will put an official stamp on absenteeism and laziness, at a crucial time when our nation needs to work, not indulge in ...

Dateline:November 06, 2001

Source:

ID:OIP-17

The idea being floated in Malacañang about the President declaring a one-week holiday this Christmas is insane. This absurd scheme will put an official stamp on absenteeism and laziness, at a crucial time when our nation needs to work, not indulge in partying and leisure.

There is a great deal of pontificating in Palace quarters that a one-week hiatus will constitute millions of pesos in "savings" in the form of the foregone use of electricity and other public utilities. This is nonsense. Wherever holidaymakers and pleasure-seekers may go, they’ll still need electricity. There’s no such thing as a vacation with vacationers fumbling around in the dark.

What the government may be calculating is that it will save on the expense of powering and air-conditioning some of its buildings. This is a false premise. The awful truth is that a weeklong holiday at the end of the year will destroy our economy. Businesses, already faltering and strapped for cash, will be forced to pay essential personnel extra pay to stay on the job, with these sums amounting to more than double the weekly wage.

The situation is horrible enough as it is. You don’t need a crystal ball to predict that many firms will be closing down, or declaring bankruptcy after the Christmas season. Desperate employers are maintaining their rosters, as it is, in order not to dampen the Christmas cheer of their soon-to-be-separated employees and workers.

Why should we be so different from the rest of the world, or more blessed by the god of employment? In New York City alone, more than 300,000 jobs were lost in the wake of the September 11 disasters. There will be millions of jobs lost in the "rich" United States in the weeks to come. All over the globe, powerful corporations and big manufacturers, not to mention high-tech firms, have been laying off workers on the average of 10,000 to 15,000 jobs per company, or more. Even Germany, the economic powerhouse of Europe, is being swamped by a rising tide of unemployment and corporate failure.

And we’re planning more holidays? We must be living in a fools’ paradise. The problem is that we can’t even go back to a coconut economy like the South Sea islanders. In the old days, the coconut was described as "the tree of life." It provided drink, food, copra, building material, and a lot of other ingredients. In the image of an idyllic islander existence, all people had to do was nap in the sun and wait for the coconuts to fall. Today, we don’t have many coconuts left. Our once-prosperous coconut industry, owing to years of neglect and government indifference, has gone to hell ­ the same hell to which our once-flourishing sugar production has gone. Decades ago we were one of the world’s biggest sugar exporters, vying with pre-Castro Cuba for a chunk of the US Sugar Quota. These days, criminal syndicates even have to smuggle in tons of sugar (and rice) to fill our needs.

The Department of Tourism is even claiming that a one-week Christmas holiday will encourage domestic tourism. Whaat? If Filipinos have only a few pesos in their pockets, they’ll go to window-shopping the malls which have replaced our parks (since our parks are overrun with muggers and squatters), or else stay put in their hometowns. There’s a beach almost everywhere, close to home for that matter. Worst of all, our officials who sponsor the one-week "happy happy" must have lost touch with reality. The end of the year is always budget and accounting time, with all accounts having to be squared and budgets toted up. Who’ll do these things if everyone is out on a lark?

What we need is hard work. Otherwise, in the end, there will be no work left for our wage-earners to do. In hard times, there is no substitute for perspiration. Coupled, of course, with faith.

Prison Raid Yields 29-Inch TVs, Luxuries

MANILA, Philippines - It looks like prison life wasn't too tough for some of the Philippines' most notorious inmates. Authorities said Monday they had seized late-model flat-screen TVs, DVD players and stereos, assorted firearms and mobile phones from ...

Dateline:Oktober 11, 2004

Source:Associated Press Wire

ID:OIP-2

MANILA, Philippines - It looks like prison life wasn't too tough for some of the Philippines' most notorious inmates. Authorities said Monday they had seized late-model flat-screen TVs, DVD players and stereos, assorted firearms and mobile phones from jail cells in the national penitentiary compound in the Manila suburb of Muntinlupa.

Bureau of Corrections Director Vicente Vinarao said he ordered the swoop after an upsurge in the electricity bill, and in line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's order for all government offices to save on energy. More than 900 assorted weapons - swords, knives, live ammunition, improvised guns and machetes - also were confiscated, Vinarao said.

"What is surprising, maybe you will not believe, that along with the ... assorted weapons, we also confiscated almost 100 televisions, mostly 29 inches," Vinarao told DZBB radio. He said while the assorted weapons could be hidden, it was impossible for TVs and other appliances to be smuggled in without the guards' knowledge.

Vinarao said most of the luxury items were found among convicted drug smugglers, who were also using cell phones to conduct business from jail. He said that as a result, "undesirable" prison guards and custodial personnel were removed from the facility.

Vinarao said only one television set is now allowed in each prison dormitory, and that lights will be turned on only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to help cut to about half the prison's $35,700 monthly electricity bill. The national penitentiary is home to death row convicts, those serving life sentences and other criminals.

Miriam Proposes Menstruation Leave

More than 12 million women in the public and private sectors will be able to take a one day "menstruation leave" if a bill filed by Miriam Defensor Santiago is passed into law. The bill proposes to grant a one-day work leave with 50 percent remuneration ...

Dateline:Oktober 13, 2004

Source:Philippine Star

ID:OIP-1

More than 12 million women in the public and private sectors will be able to take a one day "menstruation leave" if a bill filed by Miriam Defensor Santiago is passed into law. The bill proposes to grant a one-day work leave with 50 percent remuneration for those who opt not to report to work because of pre-menstrual and menstrual tension not to mention cramps.

Under SB 1687, every female employee except pregnant and menopausal women, in the public and private sector, regardless of the nature of their employment, shall be entitled to the menstrual leave.

Any person, corporation or business violating any of the provisions of the bill or it's implementing rules and regulations shall be fined an amount not exceeding P30,000 or put behind bars for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 6 months.

Colorado Soldier Dies In Philippines Escalator Fall

BAYFIELD, Colo. -- A soldier died after falling more than 30 feet from a mall escalator while on his first leave in Manilla, Philippines, his father said Friday.
Army Spec. Scott Mullen, 22, suffered severe head injuries Thursday after landing on some ...

Dateline:Oktober 15, 2005

Source:Associated Press Wire

ID:OIP-22

BAYFIELD, Colo. -- A soldier died after falling more than 30 feet from a mall escalator while on his first leave in Manilla, Philippines, his father said Friday.
Army Spec. Scott Mullen, 22, suffered severe head injuries Thursday after landing on some steps in the accident, Harold Mullen of Bayfield told the Durango Herald. Mullen showed no signs of brain activity and his father asked for no lifesaving measures.
"I felt it was best to let Scott go in peace," he said.
Radio stations in Manilla reported Mullen was sitting on a handrail when he fell.
Paratrooper Mullen was a psychological-operations specialist in a special-warfare group based at Fort Bragg, N.C., though which unit he belonged to was not immediately known.
Officials at the base did not return phone messages left by The Associated Press.
Mullen had been in the Philippines for six weeks, where his unit had been restricted to their living and work area, his father said. It was his first deployment after two years largely devoted to training.
Scott Mullen was born in Tucson, Ariz., where he graduated from Catalina Foothills High School. Mullen also completed his freshman year as a psychology major at the University of Arizona before enlisting in the Army.

Pee-In-Sky Costs Palace Aide His Jo

This should teach people not to drink and fly--especially if you're with a presidential entourage. Press Undersecretary Heraclio "Rocky" Nazareno was sacked yesterday for mistaking the exit door of the plane for a urinal and pissing on it. The ...

Dateline:Oktober 22, 2003

Source:

ID:OIP-7

This should teach people not to drink and fly--especially if you're with a presidential entourage. Press Undersecretary Heraclio "Rocky" Nazareno was sacked yesterday for mistaking the exit door of the plane for a urinal and pissing on it. The embarrassing incident happened on Sept.30 on board a chartered Philippine Airlines return flight from the United States and Europe.

According to witnesses Nazareno had been drinking with a newspaper columnist and a congressman in the economy section of the plane. After a while, the already tipsy press aide stood up to go to the comfort room. When he reached the exit door, he mistook it for a urinal and pissed on it. Ambassador Manuel Paynor, who coordinated the foreign trip got wind of the incident and reported it to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was in the business section with her official entourage. Sources say the President became furious upon learning this and ordered Nazareno banned from all presidential trips abroad.

Bottle Ends German's Shooting Spree In Philippines

MANILA - A German man killed two men and wounded two others with a pistol in a farming town in the northern Philippines before he was knocked unconscious with a soft drink bottle, police said on Tuesday.

The trouble began when a 51-year-old ...

Dateline:Oktober 24, 2005

Source:Reuters

ID:OIP-25

MANILA - A German man killed two men and wounded two others with a pistol in a farming town in the northern Philippines before he was knocked unconscious with a soft drink bottle, police said on Tuesday.

The trouble began when a 51-year-old German national who is married to a Filipino woman was summoned to the community hall to answer complaints from his neighbours accusing him of issuing threats on Sunday.

During a heated argument with his four neighbours, the man pulled out a .45 calibre pistol and began shooting at people inside the hall, said Jefferson Soriano, chief of police in the northern Cagayan Valley region.

"The village chief and his deputy were killed on the spot," Soriano told reporters. "Two of his four neighbours were shot in the head and neck, while the others scampered for safety."

Soriano said the German man chased and shot at those who tried to escape. He was subdued after the wife of one of his neighbours hit him in the head with a soft drink bottle.

Police officers found the man still unconscious and took him to hospital. He now faces murder charges.

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